Ukraine warzone items displayed in exhibition

A Ukrainian refugee has created an art installation with items salvaged from houses that have been destroyed in the conflict.

Yuliia Holovatiuk-Ungureanu moved to the UK in 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, and now lives in Trent Vale.

Her installation, which has been displayed at Staffordshire University, included fragments of broken buildings, a teddy bear, a tea cup, and a high-heeled shoe.

“My way of serving my country right now is to show this as an artist,” she said.

Ms Holovatiuk-Ungureanu visited Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv and Kharkiv, earlier this month, to visit houses and gather items.

"I think in the UK there is too little information about the war, especially in the art world," she said.

“I really wanted to bring back artefacts from the war, because I think they speak for themselves."

Ms Holovatiuk-Ungureanu, 36, is studying fine art at Staffordshire University and her installation was part of a show on campus last week that included several students’ work.

The installation also included paper planes made from the pages of Ukrainian books, to represent the children who have lost their lives since the war broke out.

“It was very emotional going there and visiting these houses,” Ms Holovatiuk-Ungureanu said of her trip.

“That was actually the reason why I wanted to go back there – to feel and to see what is happening right now with my own eyes.”

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]